As the deadline for the relocation of about 6 000 refugees from communities across the country to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa fast approaches, advocates are calling on the Malawi Government to reconsider its position.

The advocates, Innocent Magambi and Raphael Ndabaga, argue that many refugees in the camp are already struggling to access food, water, education and health services. They also contend that government’s call for the return of those who are living outside the camp may be detrimental to their welfare.

A view of Dzaleka Refugee Camp

In an interview yesterday, Ndabaga observed that with the refugee population at Dzaleka Camp already above capacity, having more people in the camp would worsen their living conditions.

He asked the government to consider granting citizenships to those willing to integrate into the local communities.

Said Ndabaga: “Refugees and asylum seekers are contributing positively to Malawi’s economic development.”

But Minister of Homeland Security Jean Sendeza said in a separate interview yesterday that the deadline still stands.

She said government is still in dialogue with cooperating partners on how best to handle the situation.

Said Sendeza: “Government is still in dialogue with cooperating partners on how best to handle the matter, because we are talking about people here and to relocate them, we need to have a conducive environment for them to stay safe and comfortably. So, we are still talking as to how best this should be handled.”

In September, Magambi asked the Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) to intervene on the government’s decision.

The calls also come at a time when the World Food Programme (WFP) has been facing difficulties in sourcing funds to feed refugees at Dzaleka Camp. Since February 2022, WFP has been steadily reducing the value of food assistance currently at K7 500 per person monthly, which translates to a daily budget of K250 for all human needs.

Both MHRC and UNHCR were yet to respond to our queationnaires.

But commenting of the suggestion to have government grant citizenship to refugees that have integrated in communities, human rights activist Michael Kaiyatsa said the International Bill of Rights, comprising the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, has limitations in Malawi.

The Ministry of Homeland Security directed that refugees living in the rural areas return to Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Dowa by the end of November 2022, while those in urban areas were given January 31 2023 as deadline.

This was after the April 2021 directive for all refugees and asylum seekers to return to the camp, which was followed by the courts granting permission to apply for a judicial review and stay of the government’s decision. In August this year, High Court of Malawi Judge Mandala Mambulasa vacated the injunction, which gave government powers to implement the directive immediately, leading to the two new deadlines.

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